Re: Thoughts on Veldtgrunt-- SG2 Zulu Wars

In a message dated 11/17/00 5:58:00 PM Central Standard Time, 
bcadwgan@fl.net.au writes:

> For the Boer war, it would have been Lee Metfords, I think.  
> 
> 

Actually all the black powder single shot rifles of 1854-1896 or so had
large 
caliber rounds. The American Springfield Trap Door was .45 caliber (the 
carbines and rifles had different length cartridges however). The French

Rifle was even larger in bore (the Chassepot), The Remington rolling
block 
rifle was at least .45 caliber, The SPencer was .52 caliber, the
Winchester 
magazine rifle was chambered in many rounds: .44/40, .45/70 amongst
others. 
The slower projectile velocities of black powser weapons mandated a
heavier 
round to provide plenty of "knock down". Later smokeless rounds had much

higher velocities, so a smaller projectile could deliver equivalent
energy to 
the target and fire with a flatter trajectory to boot.